Moulded mat

ABSTRACT

A floor mat is provided with three dimensional features. The features co-operate with a baby&#39;s stroller. When a stroller is moved over the mat, the stroller&#39;s wheels roll over the features and create movements and vibration in the stroller that simulate stroller movement or walking etc. Reciprocating movement of a stroller back and forth over a mat made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention promotes a restful state or sleep in a baby.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to floor mats and more particular to a floor matwith three dimensional features which is particular adapted to work inconjunction with a baby stroller to create oscillations or vibrationswhich are conducive to the baby's rest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a well known phenomenon that certain forms of movement induce arestful state in a baby. Restfulness and sleep can sometimes be inducedby walking with a baby, strolling with a baby or by taking a baby for ajourney in a car. However, there are times when it is not practical orconvenient for the baby or the baby's carer to be mobile. For example,inclement weather may make walking, strolling or a car trip impractical.In other instances, a carer may have other responsibilities oractivities which limit the carer's and the baby's mobility.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a floor matwith three dimensional features. The features co-operate with a baby'sstroller. When the stroller is moved over the mat, the stroller's wheelspass over the features and create movements and vibration which simulatestroller movement or walking etc. Movement of a stroller back and forthover a mat made in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention promotes a restful state or sleep in a baby.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the mat is soft enough to beused as a play mat.

In other embodiments of the invention, sub-features are moulded into themat or painted onto the mat which may have educational value orentertainment value to an infant or toddler.

Accordingly, there is provided a floor mat comprising a moulded rubbersubstrate. The substrate comprises a top surface having threedimensional features. The features are formed into a pattern which isconducive to baby rest.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the mat is fabricated from acompound made from recycled rubber tires.

In other embodiments of the invention, the features comprise a patternor array.

In other embodiments of the invention, the array comprises raised areasinto which are formed sub-features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a floor mat made in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the mat depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an alternate cross-section of the mat depicted in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the invention in plan view.

BEST MODE AND OTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a floor mat lo comprises a soft substrate 11 whichis preferably long enough and wide enough to accommodate the back andforth movement of a conventional stroller on wheels. In the example ofFIG. 1, the substrate 11 has a top surface which is subdivided into rowsand columns of equally spaced raised squares 12. The squares arepreferably separated from one another by regular gaps 13. The mat 10 canbe placed on a floor and the wheels 14 of a stroller can rest on the mat10.

Thus, the mat 10 protects the floor from the wheels 14 of the stroller.Further, the substrate 11 provides an area where the stroller can bemoved forward and backward (reciprocated) by a seated or standingperson. As the wheels 14 pass or roll over the various squares 12 andgaps 13, the stroller will be oscillated and vibrated.

In some embodiments of the invention, each of the raised surface areas(e.g. the squares 12) includes a moulded-in sub-feature 15.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sub-feature 15 may be formed in positive ornegative relief with respect to the top surface 16 of the area 12. Inpreferred embodiments, positive or negative printing techniques create avisual contrast between the feature 15 and the remainder of the area 12.As suggested by FIGS. 1 and 2, particularly apt sub-features includeletters of the alphabet or simple symbols which would be understood bytoddlers and young children. The sub-features 15 also contribute to thepattern of vibrations induced by the substrate in the stroller wheels14.

As shown in FIG. 3, all or some of the areas 12 can be formed withsub-features 15 which further comprise repetitive patterns which areadapted to induce specific kinds of vibrations. In preferred embodimentsthe regularly occurring sub-features 17 have a regular spacing which isshorter than the spacing between adjacent gaps 13.

In some embodiments the substrate 11 further comprises a border area 18which is lower than the raised areas 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mat 10 need not be square. In this example, around mat 20 in illustrated. Likewise, it will be appreciated that theareas 12 form a regular array in this example. The areas 12 need not beprovided in a regular array need not be square and the gaps 13 need notbe uniform in width or depth.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that the moldedrubber mat of the present invention provides a convenient and durablefloor covering which is well adapted to protect a floor or other surfacefrom the action of stroller wheels. Further, it is tough, water proofand soft enough to be well adapted for baby and toddler play. The mat iseasily cleaned and can be hosed down if required. In this way, the matserves a purpose while the baby is in a stroller but may also be used inlater phases of infancy to the point where the sub-features 15 may serveeducational or entertainment purposes.

The mat of the present invention simulates the motions, rhythms andvibrations associated with walking, strolling and car trips (togetherreferred to as “stroller translation”). In particular, the mat providesthe advantages of each, without the requirement for actual mobility. Assuch, the product is well adapted to use in and around homes, day carecentres, hospitals, waiting rooms or other locations where actualmobility is undesirable, inconvenient or impossible.

In preferred examples of the mat, the gaps between the primary featuresare 13-18 mm wide and about 1-5 mm deep. The features, when they aresquare are about 100-200 mm along the sides, preferably about 150 mm.The shapes moulded into the features have a width or “line” width ofabout 8-10 mm and are 1-5 mm deep.

While the present invention has been described with reference toparticular details of construction, these should be understood as havingbeen provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope ofspirit of the invention.

1. A floor mat comprising: a unitary mouled polymer structure having asubstrate onto which is formed a pattern or array of raised threedimensional features; the features further comprising features that areseparated by gaps.
 2. The mat of claim 1, wherein: the array comprisesrows and columns of equally spaced, raised squares.
 3. The mat of claim2, wherein: the array is adapted to co-operate with a baby's stroller sothat when the stroller is moved over the mat so the stroller's wheelsrotate over the array, vibrations are caused that simulate strollertranslation.
 4. The mat of claim 3, wherein: the polymer is soft enoughto be used as a play mat.
 5. The mat of claim 3, wherein: the featureshave shapes moulded into them mat or painted onto them that haveeducational value or entertainment value to an infant or toddler.
 6. Themat of claim 1, wherein: the mat is fabricated from a compound made fromrecycled rubber tires.
 7. The mat of claim 1, wherein: the featurescomprise raised areas into which are formed recessed sub-features. 8.The mat of claim 7, wherein: the sub-features are letters or graphicimages.
 9. The mat of claim 7, wherein: sub-features further compriserepetitive patterns which are adapted to induce vibrations, thesub-features have a spacing that is shorter than a spacing betweenadjacent gaps.
 10. The mat of claim 1, wherein: the mat furthercomprises a border area that is lower than the features.